CN chemiluminescence in N2 + CH4 Flowing afterglow at low temperatures

The spectra of flowing microwave post-discharge excited in N₂ and N₂ + CH₄(N₂ + C₂H₂) gas mixtures have been studied at low temperature (77 K). The molecular spectra of CN emitted by the collision-induced N + C and N + CH chemiluminescent reactions in the low-temperature afterglow system have been thoroughly investigated. The intensity of different CN (B²⁺-X²⁺) vibrational bands is very sensitive to low hydrocarbon concentration in nitrogen used as the working gas. Detection of hydrocarbon species has been demonstrated from concentrations of CH₄ and C₂H₂ in N₂ greater than 10¹⁰ molecules · cm^–3.